Kate Burton

Sybil Christopher, who died last week in New York at 83, was a noted theater producer and the founder of Arthur, a Manhattan hot spot that attracted a ritzy celebrity clientele during the 1960s. Even if she hadn't become famous as the first wife, and later, ex-wife, of actor Richard Burton, Christopher would still have occupied an important seat in New York high society and culture. "She was very hands on -- as hands on a mother as she was a producer. " said Kate Burton, her eldest daughter.

Sybil Christopher, who died last week in New York at 83, was a noted theater producer and the founder of Arthur, a Manhattan hot spot that attracted a ritzy celebrity clientele during the 1960s. Even if she hadn't become famous as the first wife, and later, ex-wife, of actor Richard Burton, Christopher would still have occupied an important seat in New York high society and culture. "She was very hands on -- as hands on a mother as she was a producer. " said Kate Burton, her eldest daughter.

"The other day Ian McKellen asked me, 'Will this be your Broadway debut?' " said Kate Burton. "I had to tell him, 'No. I've done four plays in New York.' He seemed quite surprised." Understandably. Burton, now appearing at the Ahmanson Theatre with McKellen, that consummate British actor, in the pre-Broadway run of "Wild Honey" seems to have crept up on everyone with her career. For this blue-eyed daughter of the late Richard Burton is, after all, just 29.

July 2, 1986 | DONALD CHASE, Chase is a New York writer specializing in film

"Why won't you let me do this? I must try, I must try!" "Why do you want to do this? You've graduated from college--the first person in the family--you should go get a solid job!" This dialogue between a daughter bent on an acting career and a father horrified at the prospect is quoted from memory by Kate Burton.

November 18, 2001 | LARKIN WARREN, Larkin Warren is a New York City freelance writer

Richard Burton's daughter has her father's blue eyes, her mother's indomitable spirit and (oddly) her stepmother's bordering-on-bawdy laugh. When Kate Burton laughs, a big, openhearted La Liz chortle ricochets around the room. Right up until Sept. 11 (in particular on Sept. 10, which was her birthday), Burton was laughing a lot--because life, she readily admits, was going along very nicely, thank you.

British playwright Tom Stoppard has a knack for writing dramas riddled with intellectual and linguistic complexities, and many American actors prefer not to tackle that kind of challenge. But for Kate Burton, it's precisely what she craves. That's why the actress is so pleased to be assaying the part of Hannah Jarvis, one of the chief protagonists in Stoppard's "Arcadia," which opens at the Mark Taper Forum Thursday, directed by Taper producing director Robert Egan.

When "Home Fires," NBC's latest sitcom, premieres this spring, it will have not only the creative team of "St. Elsewhere" (Bruce Paltrow, John Tinker, Tom Fontana) behind it, but also a secret weapon in a little-known New York stage actress named Kate Burton. Burton has more than her nine years on and off Broadway going for her: the daughter of a fiery Welsh actor named Richard Burton has her own brand of talent. "I've been following in his footsteps for quite a while and it's not really a novelty any more," said Burton, who co-starred with her late father in his last project, the 1984 miniseries "Ellis Island."

Kate BURTON may be starring as rich, glamorous Constance Middleton in a revival of "The Constant Wife" -- the sort of drawing-room comedy with a butler who can bring the car around. But offstage she's an Upper West Side mom, struggling with such mundane tasks as alternate-side-of-the-street parking.

February 18, 1993 | ALEENE MacMINN, Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and
international news services and the nation's press

Women for Jake: Casting for "Jake's Women" at the James A. Doolittle Theatre has been completed with the addition of a group of actors who will be re-creating their Broadway roles. Joining previously announced Alan Alda in this Neil Simon play will be Helen Shaver, Talia Balsam, Kate Burton, Genia Michaela, Maura Russo, Joyce Van Patten and Brenda Vaccaro. The production will run April 15-June 27.

Kate BURTON may be starring as rich, glamorous Constance Middleton in a revival of "The Constant Wife" -- the sort of drawing-room comedy with a butler who can bring the car around. But offstage she's an Upper West Side mom, struggling with such mundane tasks as alternate-side-of-the-street parking.

When Michael Ritchie, Center Theatre Group's new artistic director, announced details of his first season last week, the only actress he mentioned was Annette Bening, who will headline Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" at the Mark Taper Forum next February. But Ritchie is married to actress Kate Burton, and he says he expects she'll wind up appearing on one CTG stage or another while he's the boss. That won't be anytime soon. This summer, Burton will star along with Lynn Redgrave in a revival of W.

November 18, 2001 | LARKIN WARREN, Larkin Warren is a New York City freelance writer

Richard Burton's daughter has her father's blue eyes, her mother's indomitable spirit and (oddly) her stepmother's bordering-on-bawdy laugh. When Kate Burton laughs, a big, openhearted La Liz chortle ricochets around the room. Right up until Sept. 11 (in particular on Sept. 10, which was her birthday), Burton was laughing a lot--because life, she readily admits, was going along very nicely, thank you.

British playwright Tom Stoppard has a knack for writing dramas riddled with intellectual and linguistic complexities, and many American actors prefer not to tackle that kind of challenge. But for Kate Burton, it's precisely what she craves. That's why the actress is so pleased to be assaying the part of Hannah Jarvis, one of the chief protagonists in Stoppard's "Arcadia," which opens at the Mark Taper Forum Thursday, directed by Taper producing director Robert Egan.

February 18, 1993 | ALEENE MacMINN, Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and
international news services and the nation's press

Women for Jake: Casting for "Jake's Women" at the James A. Doolittle Theatre has been completed with the addition of a group of actors who will be re-creating their Broadway roles. Joining previously announced Alan Alda in this Neil Simon play will be Helen Shaver, Talia Balsam, Kate Burton, Genia Michaela, Maura Russo, Joyce Van Patten and Brenda Vaccaro. The production will run April 15-June 27.

Kate Burton grew up in the middle of the most famous show-business family of its era, so it was inevitable that she would keep a low profile during the first years of her acting career. "There was a time when I would have said, 'If I could just do theater for the rest of my life, I'd be a happy woman,' " says the daughter of the late Richard Burton and actress-producer Sybil Burton Christopher, stepdaughter of Elizabeth Taylor and actor Jordan Christopher.

When Michael Ritchie, Center Theatre Group's new artistic director, announced details of his first season last week, the only actress he mentioned was Annette Bening, who will headline Chekhov's "The Cherry Orchard" at the Mark Taper Forum next February. But Ritchie is married to actress Kate Burton, and he says he expects she'll wind up appearing on one CTG stage or another while he's the boss. That won't be anytime soon. This summer, Burton will star along with Lynn Redgrave in a revival of W.

When "Home Fires," NBC's latest sitcom, premieres this spring, it will have not only the creative team of "St. Elsewhere" (Bruce Paltrow, John Tinker, Tom Fontana) behind it, but also a secret weapon in a little-known New York stage actress named Kate Burton. Burton has more than her nine years on and off Broadway going for her: the daughter of a fiery Welsh actor named Richard Burton has her own brand of talent. "I've been following in his footsteps for quite a while and it's not really a novelty any more," said Burton, who co-starred with her late father in his last project, the 1984 miniseries "Ellis Island."

"The other day Ian McKellen asked me, 'Will this be your Broadway debut?' " said Kate Burton. "I had to tell him, 'No. I've done four plays in New York.' He seemed quite surprised." Understandably. Burton, now appearing at the Ahmanson Theatre with McKellen, that consummate British actor, in the pre-Broadway run of "Wild Honey" seems to have crept up on everyone with her career. For this blue-eyed daughter of the late Richard Burton is, after all, just 29.